Well packer



J. K. PUTNAM WELL PACKER June 5, 1,928.

2 'Sheets-Sheet ll Filed June 26, 1925 .JAW

@fz Wa June 5, 1928. 1,672,169

J. K. PUTNAM WELL PACKER Filed June 2e, 1925 2 sheets-sheet q2 PatenteJune' 5,1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES K. IB'UTNAM, 0F TULSA, OKII'AHOIIA..`

WELL PACKEB.

Application med/June 26, 1925. vSeria-1.110. 39,833.

.This invention relates to improvements in well packers.

yThe primary object of this inventiony isthe provision `of a relativelysimple and veiliciently operated typeof well packer, which may be usedto eiectively seal a well at`a i desired point, and which embodies-means by which the well may be sealedas by pumping mud, cementitiousmaterial, or other 1c sealing material into the well.

A further object of this :inventionl is the provision of a novelpackerfor wells, embodying means by which the packer element may be expandedin a novel manner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an oil wellpacker device, embodying novel means by which the packer member may beexpanded by Vgas pressure entering the well. i'

A further object of this vinvention is the provision of a novel wellpacker device, embodyin' a novel type of tool -to permit its assmbl ageor removal with respect to the A further object of this invention is therevision of a novel type f well packer, em.- odying mechanical-means bywhich to expand the packer and means to utilize gas pressure enteringthe well for the further expansion of the packer. y

Other objects and advantages of this invention vwill be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description. Q

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsvthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken thru the improvedwell packer.

Figurel 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of thelower details of the packer, showing the valve at the lower end thereofclosed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing details ofthe improved pack/er when the same is-utilized for pumping mud orcementitious material into the well to seal thesame, or to seal thewater bearing stratumfrom the oil bearing stratum.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end sectional view of the specialty 'of anchorused upon .the acker for mudding oii of wells.

Figures 5 and 6 lare sectional views of the upper end of the-packerdevice, 'showing a special type'of settool used for installing andremoval of the-packer.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are sectional' views taken substantially on theirrespective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

"Figures 10 and 11 are cross sectional views taken substantially ontheir respective lines in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred type of packer, and its associated equipmentsthe letter A maygenerally designate the improved packer, which may comprise asupportingtube B adapted to receive the expansible or elastic packer member C.thereon; upper and lower. heads D and E being provided for receiving thepacker member C therebetween, and being respectively slidable and lfixedon the tube B. A. compressing head F is used in connection'with thepacker device, with which is associated expansible jaw means G forholding the `expansible positioning of the packer member C in des'i-redrelation uponthe ltube or support B. vA regular valved anchor H may beused upon the lower end of the packer device.

A set tool J may be used with the packer -head F, and other details ofthe invention, .to effect the packer installation and removal. l(In theoperation ofthe packer to mud 0H,

or seal up the well at desired points, a special `type .of anchor K visused, with which :is

associated a plunger L operated in the supporting tube B,'t'o lpump mud,or other cementitlous or ,sealing material into the well, as will bedescribedwith more "detail hereinafter. n 1 'y The metal tube B at itslower .end islexternally screwl threaded atv 20, for detachablyreceiving the packer receiving cap E thereon. At its up er end the tubeB is provided with a circum erenti'ally outwardly and upwardly flaringhead 21, which provides`a tapered surface 22 facing downwardly, and'with which the expansible jaw construction vGr cooperates in a mannerto be subsequently described. The tube B is rovided with a fpassageway23 therethroug open at both ends, and below the tapered header end 21,the tube B exteriorly thereof is circumferen- 105 tially provided withV-shaped threads or grooves 25, with which the aws of the eni pansible'f`jaw` construction cooperate, 1n a manner tobe subsequently mentioned.Diametrically opposed pins .26 are provided y v v 1 d lwardly of thepassageway 23, a short distance below the upper end of the tube B,

and with which pins certain details of the set tool J may cooperate 'ina'manner to be subsequently described.

The packer member C is preferably farmed of some expans'ible material,such as rubber, although other expansible materials may serve thepurpose. The packer member C is hollow cylindrical in formation, and thesame is flexible. lt is provided with a central passageway 28 therethru,so that the same may be slipped over the tube B, and at its upper andlower ends the packet member C yis reduced at 29 and 30 respectively forseating in the recessed portion of the top and bottom caps D and E toloe subsequently described. The walls of the packer member C arerelatively thick, al-

t though the passageway 28 is of such adiameter that the packer member Cdoes not snugly fit upon thev tube B, but is spaced therefrom to permitgases topass upwardly thru the space, to assist in 'the expansion ofvthe packer member C whenever heavy gas pressures are encountered in thewell.

The upper cap D is, of course, of metal, and the same is provided withthe top flange 32, which seats against the upper edge of the packermember C. An inner preferably tapered tubular projection 33 is formedintegral with the flange 32, adapted to extend downwardly into the upperend of the passageway 28 of the packer member C, between the packermember C and the tube B, as is illustrated in Figure l of the drawings;said,

tube 33 being provided with a passageway upwardly thru whichl the tube Bextends in a sliding relation. At the outer margin of the llange 32, aretaining tlange 35 is provided,in spaced relation with the tubularprojection 33 to provide the annular seating recess 36 within which theupper end 29 of the packer member C is retained, against liability ofdisplacement.

The cap F at the lower end ofthe tube B is provided with a screwthreaded socket ll0 for receiving the lower screw threaded end 20 of thesupporting tube or member'B, and this cap E is provided with an annularretaining flange ll at the outer margin thereof, extending upwardly toprovide a recess 42 between the retaining flange lil and the tube orsupport B, within which the lower end 3() of the expanslible packermember C is received, against liability ofy displacement.

The cap E is of course provided with the central passageway 44Ctherethrough, and it is provided at its, lower end with a screw threadedsocket 45 ada ted to detachably -receive details f the anc ors H or K,as the case may be. iThe cap Eris provided with diagonally disposed gasports 46, arranged therein, from the lower reduced portion thereofoutletting into the space between the packer member C and the tube `B,so that gas may be carried fram the well'lup-wardly thru said ports 46into the space between the tube B and the passageway 28 of the packermember C, to act as an expansion'medium which will cause the same toexpand and prevent the packer from sliding upwardly in the hole incidentto heavy gas pressures existing within the well. c

Referring to the compressing head F the same is cylindrical information, of about the same external diameter as the normal diameter ofthe packer C. At its lowerend the head F is open ,to the .compartment 50therein, and justy upwardly a short space from the lower edge 5l of thehead, an annular flange or inwardly extending lugs 52 are provided,inwardly extending -from the. internal periphery of the head F; thelower end of the compartment 50 beingenlarged as by recessing the headVF at 53, and into this recess the lugs or annular portion 52 projects,to cooperate'in a novel manner with the jaws of the means Gr, Aand toengage against the upper surface at the outer marginal portion of thering-shaped vjaw base 55, which rests directly upon the sliding cap D.'llhe head F at its upper end is provided with the inwardly extendingflange 56, providing an internal shoulder 57 facing down- (itl.

wardly in the compartment 50; this flange 56 providing a central screwthreaded or receive details of the set tool il to be Subscquent-lydescribed. Y

Referring to the jaw means G, the same preferably comprises an innerconical shapedv expansion 'jaw device 58; and an outer expansion jawdevice 59 adapted to receive the jawdevice 58 therein. As is illustratedin the drawings in the sectional viewein Figure 10, theinner and outerjaw devices 58 and 59 are formed Lin series, sc that the in' ner conicalshaped jaw device 58 is formed of complementary segments 61, 62 and 63,annularly about the upper end of the tubular supporting rod B, justbelow the flaring head 2l thereof. ln similar manner the constructionjaw 59 includes the jaw segments 64, 65 and 66. The jaws of the innerjaw construction 58 provide outwardly tapered surfaces 70 which areconvergent from the upper end 21 of the tube B towards the axis' of thetube, and whichV rest in 'abutting engagementy against the inner taperedsurfaces 7l of the jaws of the outer jaw construc-A tion 59. rlhe jawsof the inner jaw construction 58 are beveled at 73,v at their` up perportions, to -rest against the tapered surface 22 of the end 21 of thetube B, when the packer is in normal position, unexpanded, and so thatthe jaws of the inner jaw con struction 58 will be moved out ofengagement with the grooves 'or threads 25 of the lill) nov tube B. Itshould be noted that the inner surfaces of the jaw segments of the innerjaw construction 58 are provided with projections for interitting withthe grooves 25 of the tube B, in order to clamp the inner jawconstruction 58 to the tube B, as will be subsequently described.

The expanded and unexpanded positions of the packer member C upon thedevice A are illustrated in Figures and 6 respectively, and it should benoted that in unexpanded position of the member C the head F iselevated, so that the lugs or the annular portion 52 of the same rideinto recesses 80 provided inwardly of the outer edges of the jawsegments of the outer jaw construction 59, and the outer marginalportions of said jaw segments 64, 65, and 66 are received in the annularrecess 53 of the head F, as is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings,and it is to be noted that in this position the lower marginal edge 51of the head A F is elevated above the head D, and the lugs or annularportions 52 are'spaced above the base ring 55. It should be noted thatthe lower edges of the recesses 80 and the lower abutting edges of thelugs or projections 52 are sloped downwardly slightly, so that the headF may be pushed downwardly in order to slide the projections 52 ofia ofthe jaw segments 64, 65 and 66, to lower the head projections or lugs 52against the base flange 55, into the position illustrated in Figure 5,and in this position upon forcing downwardly of the head F, the samewill cause the head D to slide downwardly over, the tube B, and causecompression of the member C to radiallyy expand the same.

Above the jaw construct-ion G, a spiral Compression spring ispositioned, abutting at its upper end against the shoulder 57, and atits lower end engaging against a ring 86 which rests upon the upperedges of the jaw vsegments 61, 62 and 63, so as to force the segments61, 62 and 63 downwardly when the head F is pulled upwardly to theposition illustrated in Figure 6, and for the purpose of causing the jawsegments of the outer jaw construction 59 to enter the recess 53 of thejaw head F, and the jaws of the inner jaw construction to radiallyexpand outwardly to loosen their connection with the support-ing tube Bso that the lower ends of the jaws 61, 62 and 63 enter -a depression 87formed inwardly of the upper surface of the base ring 55, as isillustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. l

Referring `to the means by which gas pressure from the well mayassist-in expansion of the packer member C, it is preferred to provide asealing inner tube 90, between the sliding joint connection of the cap Dand the tube B, and to this end the inne-r tube 90 Vis expanded at itsupper end over the tubular projection 33, and at its lower end it iswired in a sealed relation at 91, to the tube B. A vent tube 92 islocated in the space between the tube B and the packer member C, belowthe inner tube 90, and above the fixed cap E, and which vent tube 92 isperforated, to

aid in the inflation of the rubber packer member C throughout itslength. It is to be noted that the vent tube 92 is larger in diameterthan the central supporting tube B, to allow the gas pressure to reachthe upper part of the packer member C, to cause the same to expandthroughout its length.

The anchor H is of that type which carries a stop valve which remainsopen only when the packer C is beingv installed, and this anchor may beof any desired length, comprising a tubular body portion 95, of anyapproved length, which is threaded at its upper end into the socket 45of the cap E. At its lower end this tube 95 is open, an supports thestop valve structure 96, which consists of an attaching portion 97 oftubularfformation, having the longitudinally extending slots or openings98 laterally therein; the tubular portion 97 being slidable into thelower end of the passageway 99 of the vtube 95, and being supportedtherein as by means of a pin 100 diametrically extending across thepassageway 99 thru the openings 98. When supported in its downwardposition the openings 98 are open exteriorly ofv the tube 95, but thesaid tube 97 may be slid upwardly into the tube to close the openings98. The tube 97 at its lower end detachably supports a conical orpointed shaped plug 102, threaded into the lowery end of the tube 97,and providing a spaced fiange 103 to provlde an annular recess 104,which may receive the lower end of the tube 95 kwhen the valve 96 isclosed; packing 105 bedas viding the valve'96 is to allow Huid or gas topass thru the central tube B to relieve pressure beneath the packerdevice A, as it is being placed, otherwise the packer member ,C, wouldexpand because ot' the gas expanding feature thereof. v

Referring to the tool J, the same includes a substantially cylindiicalshaped body portion 110, which upwardly thereof is provided with a screwthreaded coupling shank 111, and at the lower end thereof is providedwith a reduced shank A112, integral with the body 110, having anoutwardly extending annular ange 113 at its lower end, and with theouter surface of the reduced shank 112 converging from .the retainingflange 113 upwardly towards the body por'l atopposite sides of thereduced shank 112,

upwardly through which openings the gas or fluid may vent during theplacing of the packer mechanism. The jaws115 and 116 are slidablyattached in assembled relation to the shank 112, by means of atransverse pin or rod 120, which transversely extends thru a slot 121thru the upper end of the reduced shank 112, so that the rod 120 maymove bodily across the slot 121, for a predetermined distance, to permitthe jaws 115 and 116 to relatively expand or contract over the taperedsurface 114 of the shank 112, and as can readily be understood. In orderfor the jaws 115 and 116 to so contract, it is ot course understood thatthese jaws are slidably connected to the rod 120.

The pin 120 is fixedly connected transversely thru a sliding rod 130,which is slidable in a passageway 131 longitudinally disposed thru thebody and shank of the tool J a compression spring 132 being locatedupwardly in the passageway 131 and bearing against. the end of the rod130, to normally force the same outwardly from the lower end of theshank 112, and thus to position the transverse pin 120 along the loweredge of the slot 121, so that the jaws 115 and 116 are normally heldexpanded under the influence of this pin,` as said jaws are thus forceddownwardly along the tapered surface of the shank 112, to the positionillustrated in Figure 6.

)referring to the method of installing the paz-ker, the drill stem orwell line is lowered into the well with the packer A connected theretoby the said tool J, which is fixed in the opening 58Tt at the upper endof the compression head F, by means of the expansible jaws 115 and 116,in the relation above described, and as is illustrated in Figure 6. thenthe packer has been lowered to the desired point, as limited by theanchor H, upon pressure downward upon the compressing head F, the latterwill be forced to slide off the outer jaw construction 59, from theposition illustrated in Figure 6 to the position illustrated in Figure5, until the lugs or annular portions 52 abut a ainst the base ring 55,or until the compression head abuts against the sliding cap D of thepacker' mechanism, and upon continued pressure upon the compressing headF, the packer member() will be mechanically compressed to radiallyexpand the same into engagement with the walls of the well, as canreadily be understood. This downwardpressure of the cap D along thetubular supporting stem B, will cause the expansible jaw structures 58and 59 to move downwardly along the screw threaded or grooved portion ofthe rod incident to the follower action of the compression spring 85,and when the operator releases the downward pressure upon the packermechanism, it can` readily be understood that the tendency of the packermember C- to push upwardly upon the head F,

f and the action of the spring 85 will cause the jaws of the jawstructures 58 and 59 to lock the head D in its set position upon thesupporting tube B, with the packer member C expanded to perform itsexpanding function, and as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

During the expansion of` the packer and the installation of the same, itis to be noted that the tool J contains the parts as is illustrated inFigure 5 of the drawings, which includes a slidable ring 125a upon therod 130, and this slidable ring 125a is prevented from sliding ofi' therod by means of an annular extension 126L at the lower end of said rod130. Between the slidable ring 125a and an annular flange 135 aboutmidway between the ends of said rod 130, a compression spring 137 isplaced, which normally tends to urge the slidable ring 125a downwardlyto the retaining portion 126B'. The parts remain in this position untilthe packer is placed as above described, and when itis desired to removethe tool J, ,the same is pi'essed downwardly into the packer device,

so that the projection 126a passes the radial projecting pins 26 of thetube B, but so that the slidable ring 125a anchors on said pins 26,tending to further compress and give further compressive force to thespring 137.

rI'he force of this spring 137 eounteracts the force ofthe spring 131,and the plunger rod 130 is forced upwardly until theflange 135 abutsagainst the lower end of the reduced shank 112, as is illustrated inFigure 5 of the drawings. Thus, the movement of the body 11(),downwardlyinto the packer device permits the pin 12() to ride upwardly in the slot121, `so that the jaws and 116 may be contracted out of engagement withthe grooves or projections of the opening 58, as is illustrated inFigure 5 of the drawings. Upon upward elevation or pull upon the tool J,it can readily be seen that the spring 137 will act-to force the rod 130upwardly, to keep the jaws 115 and 116 always contracted,

until the jaws 115 and 116 clear the opening 5,8, and the tool J can bebodily withdrawn, leaving the packer mechanism in expanded position inthe well'.

When the packer is to be released, the tool J as illustrated in Figure 6is loweredfwithout ring 125a and spring 137, so that jaws 115 and 116may lock in the opening of head2 F, and `permit the said head F tobe'lifted for releasing the packer.

Referring to the device for sealing or mudding off wells, the packer isused in much the same manner as above described, as to the placement ofthe same within the well. However, .theanchor H is replaced by vaspecial type of anchor K, especiall adapted for mudding off, or sealingthe we l or portion of the well below the packer. This special anchor Kconsists of a coupling 150, detachably connected at its upper end totheiscrew threaded socket 45 in the lower end of the packer cap E. Thecoupling 150 'therein providesa`valve seat 151, facing downwardly, andthe coupling 15() ishollow, providing a valve compartment 152 below thevalve seat 151, and a lower screw threaded socket153 for detachablyreceiving the anchor tube 154, which has a pas- A sageway\ 155 thereinand which is `transi check valvei158, and since the plunger bal'- rel160 is comparatively short; such drawversely perforate at 156 to permitthe pumping of the mud or cementitious material into the well below thepacker. A'uball valve 158 is preferably placed in the valvel compartment153, operated by means of a spiral compression spring 160a whichseatsupon the top of the tube 154 and acts to normally seat the valve 158, toprevent the return flow of the pump material into the plunger barrel 160which is detachably mounted in the upper end of the coupling 150, andextends upwardly thru the passageway 23 of the packer supporting tube B,as is illustrated in' Figure 3 of the drawings. This plunger `barrel 160provides a passageway 161 thereinl within which a plunger 162 operates;the,y plunger 162 being detachably vconnected at 163,in a screw threadedsocket provided inwardly of the lower end of the shank 112 of `the toolbody 110, as is illustrated in Fig- Y ure 3 of the drawings.` Y

The action of the plunger 162 in its reciprocation in the passageway 161is to force the cementing material' downwardly thru the valve structureand into the well thru* the perforations 156. During its reciproca" tionthe plunger 162 rides out of the upper end of the barrel 160, in orderto permit the ingress of the cementing material into the passageway ofthe plunger barrel. Upon the upward movement of the plunger 162 the samedraws a vacuumi so to speak, Vin the plunger barrel, due to the closingof the ing of a vacuum is not objectionable 'to th functioning of thedevice. s

'surfaces convergent from the upper en From the foregoing description ofthis `invention it is vapparent that a novel packer :for wells has beenprovided, which is novel in so far as the mechanical means andv asexpanding means is concerned, andin so ar as details of the muddin oconstruction is concerned, as provi ing afpump for a packer mechanism'by which the well may be'sealed to produce any of the welllmow'nsealing operations necessary in connection with oil well operations. l

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of adrts may be madeto the form of invention erein sh'own and described, without departingfrom the spirit of this inventionl or thek scope of the claims.

I- claim:

1. In a packer mechanism the combination of ga support, a hollowcylindrical shaped flexible packer member receiving the sup- 85 porttherethrough, a cap fixed at one end of the packer member and to saidsupport, a cap on the oppositeend of said ackermember slidable on thesupport, sai support ad!l jacent'said slidable cap extending from said00 slidable cap, a series of jaws'V arranged about the extending end ofsaid support above the slidable cap and roviding outer surfaces.'convergent from t e upper` end of'the support towards said packermember, a second 66 series of radially movable jaws Vdisposed about thefirst mentioned series of jaws and having convergent faces in abutmentwith the convergent faces of said'first mentioned series of jaws, andmeans. movably con- 10o nected with said first and second mentioned rseries of jaws -to radially expand or contract the same with respect tothe support toregu-l late the expanded relation and positioning of thepacker member on said support.

2.Y In a packer mechanism the'combination of a support, Aa hollowcylindrical shaped iexible packer member receiving the -supporttherethrough, a cap ixedat one end of the packer member and tosaidsupport,'a 11o cap on the opposite end of said packer member slidable onthe support, said support adjacent said slidable cap extending fromAsaidslidable cap,`a series of 'aws arranged about the extending end ofsaid support adjacent the slidable cap and providing oite;4

o the supporttowardsl said packe-r member,

a second series of jawsl disposed about the first mentioned series ofjaws and having i tions, and said compressing head being movable alongsaid jaw constructions whereby to place the projections` thereof intosaid recesses or out of said recesses to hold the aws clamped upon thesupport or released upon the support. v

3. In a ,packerme'clfanism a support,l a bottom cap fixedjto thesupport, a flexible tubular shaped packer member connected in said fixedcap, a cap for the opposite end of the packer member slidable along saidsupport, said support at said slidable cap extending therethrough andoutwardly therel from and being lannularlyI grooved, an annular seriesof wedge shaped jaws immediv ately about said grooved end of thesupport,

a'second annular series of jaws in. sliding wedge abutment with saidfirst mentioned' jaws, a compressing head about said jaws and movablewith respect vthereto and to-the support, spring means `operatingagainst the rst mentioned series of jaws to tend to force the sametowards the' packer member, and means included in the'construction of`thev second mentioned series of jawsandsaid -compressing head wherebyupon movement of the latter the first and second mentioned jaws may berelatively moved into or out of engaging and releasing relation withrespect to the.grooved support. ,i

4. In a packer mechanism the combination ofl a support, a flexiblepacker member, means connecting the packer member at one end to thesupport, a cap at the opposite end of the packer member slidable alonthe* support, said support extending 'beyon said slidable cap and havingan outwardly flaring end thereon, interfitting wedge shaped jawconstructions each of a plurality of sections disposed about saidsupport between the flar- A ing end thereof and top of said packer"tendlng to force the same towar s said packer ring.

5. In a packer device for oil wells the combination of a tubular supportnormally open, valve means associated with the tubular support to permitgas to pass therethrough, an expansible packer member carried'on thetubular support upwardly of said valve means, means sealing theconnection between the support and the packer member adjacent the upperend ofthe latter, and means for permitting the inflow ofgas frompressure within the well between the packer member and thersupport at apoint upwardly of said valve lwhenl the latter is closed as by contactwith a well bottom. 6. A packer member comprising a tubular support, acap fixed on said tubular support, l

la cap slidable on the tubular support upwardly of said first mentionedcap, anl expansible packer member of hollow cylindrical formation aboutthe support between the fixed and slidable caps in slightly spacedrelation from the support, valve me'ans/` associated with said tubularsupport to permit the venting of gases upwardly through the tubularsupport until the valve means is closed by abutment with a part of thewell, said xed cap of the support having lateral ducts extendingtherethrough' and entering the space between the support and v packermember for the carrying of as pressure from the lwell into the spaceetween said support and acker member, and means sealing the yspaceb andvpacker member adjacentthe upper end `of said packer member.

7. In a tool for placing and removing well packers comprising asupporting body, a plunger rod in the supportlng body, a spring normallyforcingthe plunger rod outwardly from the end of the supporting body, ashan rigidl with the supporting body 'thru vwhich said rod extends, jawmeans expansibly car'- ried on said shank cooperativel formed therewith'to cause expansion an contraction of the jaws as the latter are movedalong the shank, a pin associated with said jaw means and connected withsaid rod whereby the same will be moved upon movement of the rod to movethe jaws over said shank to cause their expansion` or contraction. A

8. A tool for placing and removing well etween the supportA www# ioo4

packers comprising a supporting body2 a plunger rod in the supportingbody, a spring normally forcin the plunger rod outwardly from the end o?the sup orting body, a reduced shank rigid with tl'le supporting bodyand thru which said rodextends, jaw means expansibly carried on saidshank, a pin associated with said jaw means and with said rod wherebythe same will be moved upon, move-v ment of the, rod to move the jawsover said' reduced shank to cause their expansion or contraction, saidrod at yits outer end having a slidable abutment thereon-and a rigidabutment thereon adjacent said reduced shank, and com ression springmeans between the sliding a utment and rigid abutment 9. Ina well packerthe combination of a tubular support having a passageway there# through,a packer member about the support,-

means sealing the upper end of the packer member at its connection withthe support, said packer nember being of expansib e ma- `terial andconnected upon the support so as to permit of its spaced` expansion withrespect to the support, the lowerend of the through the passageway of'the tubular support at a predetermined time.

10. In a packer for wells the combination of a tube, a hollowcylindrical shaped eX- pansible packer member on the tube in spacedrelation therewith, means sealing the upper end of the packer memberaboutv the tube to seal said space at its upper end, and means forpermitting gases into the space between the packer member and tube froma location exteriorly of the tube and below the packer member Whereby tocause the latter to radiallyexpand.

11. In a Well packer the combination of a tube, a compressible packermember surrounding the tube, means securing the lower end of the packermember upon 'the tube', the upper end of the packer member being movablewith respect to the tube, clamping jaw means supported by the uppermovable upper end of the packer member for engaging the tube, and meansrelatively movable of the compressible the inflow of well towards andaway f actlon on and having a cam the clamping jaw means for releasingor clamping the same with respect to the tube. for holding the packermember in an extended or comressed relation upon said tube.

12. In a packer mechanism for wells the combination of a supportingtube, a compressible packer member .receiving the tube therethrough,means securing the lower end packer member on the tube, the upper. endof. the compressible packer member being movable longitudinally of thetube, clampingV jaws supported by the upper end of the packer member andoperating along said tube to clamp thereagainst,

a sleeve relatively movable longitudinally along the tube with respectto said packer member and receiving the clamping jaws therein so thatthe said clamping jaws are disposed between said sleeve and the tube,and cam means formed on the sleeve and the clamping jaws to force thesaid clamping jaws against the tube or release the same with respect tothe tube upon longitudinal movement' of the sleeve relative along thetube.

JAMES K. PUTNAM.

from the packer member

